Newsprint coupon separator

ABSTRACT

A weakening composition printed onto newsprint in a predetermined pattern causes the newsprint to weaken within a short period of time along the lines of the pattern so that the newsprint tears preferentially along the outline of the pattern.

This invention relates to the treatment of paper, and in particularnewsprint, so as to form a predetermined pattern of weakened lines inthe paper whereby a section may be separated from the paper much as asingle stamp is removed from a sheet of stamps.

Most major metropolitan newspapers are printed with high speed rotarypresses. The newsprint is supplied to the presses in large rolls, and aweb of newsprint is pulled through the presses at speeds which oftenexceed 30 or 40 miles per hour. Under these conditions any imperfectionsor weaknesses in the newsprint, which may cause the newsprint to rip inthe press, causes an immediate breakdown in the printing operation. Theprinting fluid or ink must be sufficiently viscous so that thecentrifugal force of the rotating printing presses will not throw theprinting ink off of the rollers. The printing inks which are utilizedmust dry by sorption. Since it only takes a few seconds for thenewsprint to pass from the feed roller through the folding station, theprinting ink must dry almost instantaneously to a state where it willnot smear.

One technique which is commonly used in merchandising of food and otherretail itmes is to insert a coupon into a newspaper. The coupon is to betorn out by the reader of the newspaper and taken to the store where itis redeemed for the goods identified in the coupon. The coupons areprinted onto the newsprint and thus become part of the newspaper.Removing these coupons from the newspaper presents a problem. In orderto remove the coupon with a clean straight edge it is necessary to usean implement, such as a scissors or a razor blade. If such implementsare not immediately at hand, the sale is in many cases lost because thecoupon is not clipped out and redeemed. If an effort is made to tear thecoupon out without using a cutting instrument, the resultant piece ofnewsprint has ragged edges and is of an irregular shape and proportion.often the coupon tears at the wrong location and is mutilated to thepoint where it is simply discarded rather than being used for itsintended purpose. When coupons which have been severed from newsprintare presented for redemption at the store, their mutilated condition andirregular shape often presents a very considerable problem in sorting,counting, and handling. These coupons are often sorted and counted byhand so that there is a long delay between the time when they arepresented to the store for redemption and the time when the store canclose its books on the transaction.

According to the present invention the problems attending theutilization and accounting for coupons which are printed as a part of anewspaper are solved by printing the coupons in such a way that thenewsprint preferentially tears along the outline of the coupon, and thecoupon itself bears identifying indicia which renders it processable byautomatic means.

The present invention includes a composition which is printed onto theweb of newsprint or other paper in a predetermined pattern. Thecomposition is of such a nature that it causes the web of paper toweaken within a short period of time wherever the composition has beenprinted onto it. The weakening does not take place instantaneouslybecause an instantaneous weakening might result in causing the web torupture as it moves through the high speed printing presses. This wouldresult in disrupting the printing operation. For this reason, theweakening action must be delayed for at least a few seconds to allow theweb of paper to pass completely through the printing press. Theweakening action must last for at least several days in order to serveits intended function. The newsprint weakening composition must be fluidin nature so that it can be applied to the newsprint in the same waythat printing ink is applied to the newsprint. The weakening compositionpreferably has approximately the same physical characteristics asprinting ink so that it can be handled and applied with existingprinting equipment using conventional techniques. The weakeningcomposition must be sufficiently sorbable by the paper so that it isinstantaneously dried to such a degree that it will not smear. Theweakening composition should accept pigmentation so that it can printnot only a line which will become weakened but also one which is visibleto the eye. In general, the viscosity of the weakening agent can bevaried by the use of thickening agents to provide a composition whichcan be used interchangeably with conventional printing press inks inconventional printing press equipment. In some instances thesecompositions have thixotropic characteristics. When these compositionsare intended for use in high speed rotary presses, the viscosity shouldbe sufficient to prevent the composition from being thrown off therollers by centrifugal force.

In general the weakening compositions include at least water, one ormore hygroscopic materials, and one or more wetting agents. Generally,it is desirable to include a thickening agent to increase the apparentviscosity of the composition to those values which approximate thosepossessed by printing inks which are used in the same presses. Othermaterials; such as, corrosion inhibitors, pigments, solvents,hydrotrops, foam suppressors, and the like, may be included. Oneincluded material may perform more than one function; for example, athickener may also be a humectant and a lubricant.

The preferred paper weakening compositions in general provide andmaintain moisture in the paper for an extended period of time. Theweakening of the paper is performed at least in part by the moisture.Other agents, such as alkaline or acid materials or lubricants, may beutilized if desired. These additional materials also contribute to theweakening of the paper when they are utilized. The water and anyadditional weakening agents require at least a few seconds to act on thepaper before any detectable weakening occurs. The water causes thefibers in the paper to swell and separate. The other materials attackthe binders or even the fibers so as to weaken the web and cause it toseparate. The lubricants tend to facilitate the separation of thefibers.

In general, one preferred group of weakening compositions may bedescribed as humectants; that is, they both provide and maintain asufficient amount of moisture in the paper for an extended period oftime so that the paper is thereby weakened and the binding of the fiberswashed aside. The humectant activity of the composition may be providedby the presence of hygroscopic materials or by the presence of materialswhich prevent moisutre from escaping or by a combination of suchmaterials. The humectant composition must also include wetting agents toenhance its sorption characteristics.

In general, the ingredients which are utilized in the weakeningcomposition should be substantially noncorrosive so that they do notdamage the presses and associated equipment. For this reason, highlyalkaline and

Preferably, the materials used in the manufacture of the weakeningcompositions are nontoxic and nonallergenic. Printed material, and inparticular newspapers, are disseminated widely throughout the populationso that care must be taken in the choice of materials to avoidsubstances which might cause adverse reactions to members of the generalpublic. For thisreason, highlyalkaline and acid materials are generallynot preferred.

Generally it is desired that the weakening composition leave an imprintwhich is visible to the eye as well as weakening to the paper. Theweakening composition preferably is of a characteristic which permits itto strike through the paper; that is, after it has been printed on thepaper, it is possible to detect the presence of the weakeningcomposition on both sides of the paper, thus insuring that the paper isweakened through its entire thickness. This characteristic isconveniently described as strike through. This characteristic of strikethrough is, however, very undesirable for printing ink because a strikethrough of the visible indicia which is printed on one side of the paperso that it is readily detected by the eye renders the other side of thepaper unusable for printing purposes.

When the weakening composition is desired or required to leave a visibleindication on one side of the paper, it is preferably pigmented withconventional fine particulate solid phase materials; such as, forexample, carbon black, red lead, iron oxide (red), chrome green, copperor cobalt blues, benzidine yellow, triphenylmethane derivatives, metalorganic complexes, and the like. These solid phase pigmentationmaterials can be used such that they do not strike through the papereven though the weakening composition vehicle in which they are carrieddoes strike through. These pigmentation materials remain at or close tothe surface of the paper upon which they are imprinted.

The concentration of the pigmentation material generally determineswhether at a given rate of application it will strike through the paper.In general, the concentration of the pigment is less than approximately2 percent and preferably less than approximately 0.1 weight percent ofthe total composition, although other concentrations may be used asdesired.

The characteristic of selective or differential strike through betweenthe pigment and the weakening composition vehicle generallydistinguishes these compositions from other printing inks andcompositions.

The capacity of the vehicle to strike through the paper, and inparticular newsprint, generally depends in large part for any given rateof application upon the characteristics and concentration of the wettingagent which is included in the formulation. Wetting agents which possesshigh wetting and spreading capability together with low foaming andpaper swelling characteristics are generally preferred. Typicalpreferred wetting agents which exhibit high wetting and spreadingcharacteristics together with low foaming properties include, forexample, amine polyoxyethylene-glycol condensates containing from about8 to 14 ethylene oxide units. Such materials are commercially available,for example, under the trade designation "Triton CF32" for Rohm & Haas.Other preferred wetting agents which exhibit high wetting and spreadingcharacteristics include, for example, polyoxyethylene sorbitan esters offatty acids, which fatty acids contain from 14 to 18 carbon atoms,polyoxyethylene oleyl ethers, polyoxyethylene alkyl amines,polyoxyethylene alkyl sulfonates, wherein there are from about 10 to 35ethylene oxide units, xylene sulfonic acid, and the like.

The wetting agent which is employed to enhance the sorbability of thecomposition into the paper is a compound which lowers the surfacetension of water against air at least below 72 dynes per centimeter andpreferably below approximately 30 dynes per centimeter at 20°centigrade.

Among wetting agents useful in the composition are non-ionic, anionic orcationic, or amphoteric wetting agents.

In general, suitable nonionic agents are those which may be produced bythe introduction of an alkylene oxide group into an organic hydrophobiccompound or group having an aliphatic or aromatic structure. Thehydrophobic organic group generally contains at least 8 carbon atoms andup to about 30 carbon atoms. Condensed with the hydrophobic group are atleast 5 and preferably up to about 50 alkylene oxide groups. It ispreferred to use the polyoxyethylene condensates derived from ethyleneoxide. Among the nonionic detergents, it is preferred to use thepolyalkylene oxide condensates of an alkyl phenol, such as thepolyoxyethylene ethers of alkyl phenols having an alkyl group of atleast about six, and usually about 8 to 12 carbons, and an ethyleneoxide ratio (No. of moles per phenol) of about 7.5, 8.5, 11.5 or 20,though the number of ethylene oxide groups will be usually from about 8to 18. The alkyl substituent on the aromatic nucleus may bedi-isobutylene, diamyl, polymerized propylene, dimerized C₆ -C₇ olefin,and the like.

Other suitable wetting agents are the polyoxyalkylene esters of organicacids, such as the higher fatty acids, rosin acids, tall oil acids, oracids from the oxidation of petroleum, et cetera. These polyglycolesters will contain usually from about 12 to about 30 moles of ethyleneoxide or its equivalent and about 8 to 22 carbons in the acyl group.Suitable products are refined tall oil condensed with 16 or 20 ethyleneoxide groups, or similar polyglycol esters of lauric, stearic, oleicacids, etc.

Additional nonionic wetting agents are the polyalkylene oxidecondensates with higher fatty acid amides, such as the higher fatty acidprimary amides, mono- and di- ethanolamides. Suitable agents are coconutfatty acid amide condensed with about 10 to 50 moles of ethylene oxide.The fatty acyl group will have similarly about 8 to 22 carbons, andusually about 10 to 18 carbon atoms, in such products. The correspondingsulfonamides may be used also if desired.

Other suitable polyether nonionic wetting agents are the polyalkyleneoxide ethers of high aliphatic alcohols. Suitable fatty alcohols havinga hydrophobic character, preferably Possessing 8 to 22 carbons, arelauryl, myristyl, cetyl, stearyl, and oleyl alcohols which may becondensed with an appropriate amount of ethylene oxide, such as at leastabout 6, and preferably about 10 to 30 moles. A typical product is oleylalcohol condensed with about 12, 15 or 20 moles of ethylene oxide. Thecorresponding higher alkyl mercaptans or thio-alcohols condensed withethylene oxide are suitable also. The water-soluble polyoxyethylenecondensates with hydrophobic polyoxypropylene glycols may also beemployed.

Further suitable nonionic materials are the higher fatty acidalkanolamides; such as, the monoethanolamides, diethanolamides, andisopropanolamides wherein the acyl radical has about 10 to 14 carbonatoms and amine oxides. Examples are coconut (or equivalent lauric),capric and myristic diethanolamide, monoethanolamide andisopropanolamide, dodecyl dimethyl amine oxide and dimethylacetoxyalkylamine oxide where alkyl is C₁₁ -C₁₄.

Other suitable agents are anionic aromatic materials, e.g.,water-soluble higher alkyl aryl sulfonates particularly those havingfrom 8 to about 15 carbon atoms in the alkyl group having a mononucleararyl nucleus, such as toluene, xylene, or phenol. The higher alkylsubstituent on the aromatic nucleus may be branched or straight-chainedin structure, examples of such group being nonyl, dodecyl, andpentadecyl groups derived from polymers of lower mono-olefins, decyl,keryl, and the like.

Illustrative of suitable aliphatic anionic agents are the normal andsecondary higher alkyl sulfate detergents, particularly those havingabout 8 to 15 carbons in the fatty alcohol residue, such as lauryl (orcoconut fatty alcohol) sulfate. Other suitable detergents are thesulfuric acid esters of polyhydric alcohols incompletely esterified withhigher fatty acids, e.g., oleic acid ester of isothionic acid; thehigher fatty acid (e.g., coconut) ethanolamide sulfate; the higher fattyacid amide of amino alkyl sulfonic acids, e.g., lauric acid amide oftaurine; and the like.

Typical specific examples are: the sodium salt of a sulfate ester of analkylphenoxypoly (ethyleneoxy) ethanol, the ammonium salt of thissulfate ester, sodium methyl oleyl taurate, sodium alkyl naphthalenesulfonate, alkyl acyl sodium sulfonate, sodium tetrahydronaphthalenesulfonate, sodium alkyl aryl sulfonate, alkyl amido sulfate,cocomonoglyceride sulfate, dodecylbenzene sodium dodecyl diphenyl oxidedisulfonate, sulfonated castor oil, polyethoxyalkyl phenol sulfonatetriethanolamine salt, sodium triethanolamine alkyl aryl sulfonate,magnesium lauryl sulfate, potassium lauryl sulfate, sodium lauryl ethersulfate, ammonium lauryl ether sulfate, sodium tallow sulfate,dodecylbenzene sodium sulfonate, oleyl methyl tauride, ammonium alurylsulfate, amide sulfonate, and the like.

Other suitable synthetic detergents are cationic agents such as theamines, particularly primary fatty amines; such as, lauric amine,myristic amine, palmitic amine, stearic amine, oleyl amine, linoleylamine, coco amine, and tallow amine. Also N-fatty propylene diamine andheterocyclic tertiary amines as well as fatty halides, e.g., stearyldimethyl benzene ammonium chloride, dodecylbenzene chloride, laurylpyridinium chloride and sulfates, e.g., lauryl pyridinium bisulfate canbe used.

In general, the wetting agents are provided in an amount just sufficientto insure that the composition will be detachable on both sides of thepaper to which it is applied for a given predetermined rate ofapplication. In general, the concentration of the wetting agent rangesfrom about 0.1 to 35 and preferably from about 2 to 15 weight percent ofthe total composition.

In general, suitable humectants include those organic or inorganicmaterials which tend to maintain the portion of the paper web in whichthey are sorbed in a slightly moist condition so that the web issoftened, and the fibers are caused to unfelt. Suitable humectantsinclude, for example, phosphoric acid, glycerol, monoglycerides of fattyacids wherein the fatty acids have from about 8 to 18 carbon atoms,liquid dicarboxylic acid glycerol copolymers wherein the dicarboxylicacid includes from 4 to about 8 carbon atoms including fumaricacid-glycerol copolymer, dicarboxylic acid polyoxyalkyleneglycol esterswherein the polyoxyalkyleneglycol contains from about 5 to 35 alkyleneoxide groups such as ethylene oxide and propylene oxide, phosphoricacid-polyoxyethyleneglycol esters having molecular weights from aboutapproximately 500 to 2500, glycerol phosphate esters produced byreacting from about 1 to 2 glycerol to 1 phosphoric acid, propyleneglycol, d-sorbitol, magnesium chloride, magnesium perchlorate, potassiumbisulfate, potassium hydroxide, and the like.

A great variety of compositions will function to accomplish theweakening of the paper along a predetermined line or in a predeterminedlocation. The particular formulation of weakening compositions is notparticularly critical provided that the composition is capable ofstriking through the paper and is capable of weakening the paper withina few hours and maintaining it in that weakened condition for at leastseveral days. In general, compositions which are capable of performingthis function include a humectant, a wetting agent, water, and athickener which may be the same as or different from the humectant andwetting agent. The thickener prevents the composition from spreading toofar laterally through the paper as well as permitting the composition tobe applied in conventional printing press equipment.

Hydrotrops are often included with wetting agents so as to help bind thewetting agent to the water. Suitable hydrotrops for use in the presentweakening compositions include, for example, toluene sulfonic acids,butyl cellosolve, hexylene glycol, sodium toluene sulfonic acid,cellosolve acetate, cellosolve, hexane diol, and the like.

In the following examples all parts and percentages are by weight unlessotherwise indicated. The following specific examples are submitted forpurposes of illustration and not limitation.

EXAMPLE I

In a preferred weakening composition, according to the presentinvention, an admixture is prepared containing 35 parts by weight ofglycerol, 35 parts by weight of polyoxyethylene-glycol having amolelcular weight of about 500, 30 parts by weight of water, 6 parts byweight of Cabosil M-5 thickener (a fumed silica powder having a particlesize in the colloidal range) and 2 parts by weight of an aminepolyoxyethyleneglycol condensate containing about 10 ethylene oxideunits. In this formulation the glycerol and the polyoxyethyleneglycolfunction as humectants; the Cabosil M-5 is a thickener; and the aminepolyoxyethyleneglycol condensate is a wetting agent. When thiscomposition is printed onto 32-pound newsprint stock, the newsprintbecomes very considerably weakened along the line where the compositionwas printed. The composition is detectable on both sides of thenewsprint. The tearability of the newsprint is measured by clamping oneend of a strip of newspaper which has had a line of this weakeningcomposition printed across it so that the paper hangs vertically withthe printed line extending horizontally completely across the newsprint.A second clamp is attached to the lower edge of the newsprint withprovisions being made to attach a spring scale to the clamp. The springscale is carefully pulled by hand until the weight is sufficient tocause the newspaper to rip. Utilizing the composition of this example atan application rate just sufficient to detect the strike through of thecomposition on the reverse side of the newsprint, it required 1 to 3pounds to rip different samples of the newsprint. Equivalent newsprintsamples which had not been treated with the composition of this examplerequired from 10 to 12 pounds to cause them to rip. The rip tests werecarried out on newsprint samples which had been treted with thecomposition of this example and allowed to weaken for about 1 hour.Samples of newsprint which were treated with the composition of thisinvention and then set aside for differing periods of time required from1 to 3 pounds of weights to cause them to rip at time intervals aftertreatment ranging from 5 hours to 3 weeks.

The composition of this example was used to print rectangular designs onsamples of newsprint. About 1 hour after printing, it was found that therectangular sections of newsprint within the boundaries of therectangular printed patterns could be easily separated from theremainder of the sheet of newsprint. The newsprint tore preferentiallyalong the lines defined by the printed composition.

The addition of carbon black to the composition of this example resultedin the printing of a line of the newsprint which was visible on one sidebut not on the other even though the composition was applied at a ratesuch that it just struck through the paper. The effectiveness of thecomposition was not changed by the addition of the carbon black.Likewise, the addition of red lead resulted in the printing of a redline which did not strike through the paper. The composition of thisexample is a suitable vehicle for these pigments.

Microscopic examination of the newsprint several hours after thecomposition of this example has been applied to it reveals that thefibers of the paper have become unfelted to a considerable extent wherethe composition has attacked them. A slight tackiness is felt when afinger is rubbed over the line where the composition of this example isprinted onto the newsprint. The portion of the paper which has sorbedthe composition is slightly moist. The paper appears to be slightlyswelled indicating that the composition has caused the fibers to unfelt.

Utilizing the composition of this example in a proof press with avariety of different styles of lines shows that the composition of thisexample is effective with light lines, heavy lines, and broken lines.The tearability of the newsprint increases as the presure setting of theprinting press is increased.

EXAMPLE II

In a second preferred weakening composition, 10 parts by weight of 85percent phosphoric acid is admixed with 3 parts by weight of glycerol, 3parts by weight of triethanolamine, 20 parts by weight of water, 1 partby weight of Cabosil M-5 thickener, and 0.55 parts by weight of aminepolyoxyethyleneglycol condensate containing about 10 ethylene oxideunits.

In the weakening composition of this example, the phosphoric acid andglycerol function as humectants; the triethanolamine functions to reducethe acidity of the composition; and the amine polyoxyethyleneglycolcondensate is a wetting agent. The Cabosil performs the function of athickening agent.

The composition of this invention, when applied to 32-pound newsprintstock as described above in Example I, results in a product with a ripstrength of from 1 to 3 pounds, determined as described in Example I.

The substitution of polyoxyethyleneglycol having a molecular weight offrom about 600 to 1000 for the Cabosil in this example produces aneffectively thickened composition. Likewise, the use of synthetic gums,such as polyacrylamide or natural gums such as gum arabic, for theCabosil produces an acceptably thickened composition which can be usedin a high speed rotary press to print a line which does not spreadexcessively through the paper after application.

EXAMPLE III

In the following Table I the weakening compositions A through H arelisted. The numerals in each of the columns A through H indicate thegrams of the materials which are present in the respective compositions.

                  TABLE I    ______________________________________                   A   B     C     D   E   F   G   H    ______________________________________    Polyoxyethylene-    nonylphenol      3     5     3   5   1    (m.w. about 600)    Coco fatty acid    diethanol amide                          2    Amine polyoxy-    ethyleneglycol                               1   0.5    (m.w. about 600)    Toluene sulfonic    acid                   2    Sodium toluene    sulfonic acid                2    KHSO.sub.4       3    Glycerol         15    15    20      12  20  13    Phosphoric acid    85 percent             5                         10    KOH                          3    Fumaric acid-    glycerol copolymer               20    Fumaric acid-poly-    oxyethyleneglycol    ester (m.w. about                    7    600)    Phosphoric acid-poly-    oxyethyleneglycol    ester (m.w. about                        11    600)    Polyoxyethylene-    glycol m.w. 600                              1.9    Cabosil M-5      2     3     2               0.9 1    Triethanolamine                                  3    Methanol               0.5    Octanol                                  0.5    Water            14    22    30  25  12  20  13  20    ______________________________________

As indicated in the foregoing examples, the compositions generallycontain from approximately 20 to 60 weight percent water, fromapproximately 30 to 60 weight percent humectant, and from about 2 to 15weight percent wetting agent. Various other materials; such asthickeners, wetting aids, foam depressants, hydrotrops, and the like,are added as the particular formulation may require.

The use of the present compositions does not interfere with theapplication of a line-type code system to the area of newsprint which isto be separated from the remainder of the sheet of newsprint. Indiciawhich appears as a line-type code system on the newsprint is machinereadable by automated grocery check out systems so as to permitautomatic accounting for the information on the newsprint at the checkout stand in any grocery store which is equipped with the capability tomachine read printed indicia.

The compositions of these examples are susceptible to being colored withconventional pigment coloring agents, such as carbon black and red ironoxide, so as to produce a colored line where the paper is weakened.

The compositions of these examples are particularly effective when theyare applied to newsprint, but they are also effective when applied toother papers.

The various materials in these examples may perform more than onefunction; for example, the fumaric-acid glycerol copolymer incomposition D performs the function of humectant and thickener.

The humectant or hygroscopic materials in these compositions should beprovided in an amount sufficient to provide enough moisture in theprinted on condition to reduce the rip strength of the paper to lessthan approximately 75 percent and preferably less than about 50 percentof the rip strength of the untreated paper.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of printing paper, integral portions ofwhich are readily hand-detachable from the remainder of the paper alongpredetermined boundaries, which method comprises:supplying to a printingpress a paper-weakening composition comprising a pigment and a vehicleincluding substantially non-corrosive humectant, water and a wettingagent; passing a web of paper through the printing press; repetitivelydemarking discrete portions of the paper from surrounding portionsthereof with said composition while maintaining the integrity of the webacross resulting lines of demarcation; and removing the paper from thepress and forming an assembly of the same with other paper in layeredrelation; said composition being sufficiently dried prior to theforegoing assembly step to prevent smearing of the pigment uponassembly, yet maintaining a moistened condition along the lines ofdemarcation following the assembly step so that the paper maysubsequently be easily and preferentially torn along the lines ofdemarcation.
 2. A method according to claim 1 wherein said paper isnewsprint.
 3. A method according to claim 2 wherein the discreteportions so demarked are rectangular.
 4. A method according to claim 2wherein machine detectable indicia are printed on the discrete portionsso demarked.
 5. A method according to claim 2 wherein the paperweakening composition is applied to the paper at a rate such that thevehicle strikes through the paper, while the pigment does not.
 6. Amethod according to claim 5 wherein the discrete portions so demarkedare rectangular.
 7. A method according to claim 5 wherein machinedetectable indicia are printed on the discrete portions so demarked.